Progress of the RADIX (Rapid Access Drilling and Ice eXtraction) fast-access drilling system

Abstract mm  access hole is drilled with a hydraulic coiled tubing system where the tube consists of a plastic hose. The ice cuttings are flushed to the surface in normal circulation, i.e., between the hose and borehole wall, and can be sampled for analysis. After drilling, a dedicated logger with a 15 mm  diameter is deployed into the hole for measuring the geometric orientation of the hole, the temperature profile and the dust content in the surrounding ice (optical dust logger). The equipment has been tested and improved during six field projects in Greenland and Antarctica. It is designed to ultimately drill through a 3000 m ice sheet within roughly 1 week. The greatest depth reached so far was 324 m during the last field project at Little Dome C.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Progress of the RADIX (Rapid Access Drilling and Ice eXtraction) fast-access drilling system ; volume:17 ; number:3 ; year:2023 ; pages:1151-1164 ; extent:14 ; The Cryosphere ; 17, Heft 3 (2023), 1151-1164 (gesamt 14)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Schwander, Jakob ; Stocker, Thomas F. ; Walther, Remo ; Marending, Samuel

Further information

• DOI: 10.5194/tc-17-1151-2023
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2023033005552046497026
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 10:54 AM CEST